Cincy Jungle - Bengals Top 10 positional matchups in 2016Who Deyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48495/cincyjungle_fave.png2016-07-20T07:00:03-04:00http://www.cincyjungle.com/rss/stream/116517832016-07-20T07:00:03-04:002016-07-20T07:00:03-04:00Best matchups of 16: No. 1, Burfict vs Steelers' O
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<figcaption>Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>There are so many reasons why watching Burfict face off against the Steelers in 2016 should be awesome.</p> <p id="paragraph0">If you've been paying attention, you probably saw this one coming. There are going to be a lot of great matchups to look forward to during the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a>' upcoming season, but none more than <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/245415/vontaze-burfict?_ga=1.124355274.1585000710.1455890694">Vontaze Burfict</a> vs the Steelers' offense. We'll have to wait quite some time for that to happen as Burfict will be sitting out of the teams' Week 2 matchup. So, it won't be until Week 15 that Burfict and the Steelers' offense matchup.</p>
<p>So far, we've explored nine of the 10 best positional matchups on the Bengals' 2016 schedule. Here's the list so far:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/5/11852320/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-10-bengals-cornerbacks?_ga=1.128634572.1585000710.1455890694">No. 10 Bengals cornerbacks vs Jets wide receivers</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/7/11867348/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-9-andrew-whitworth-vs?_ga=1.128634572.1585000710.1455890694">No. 9 Andrew Whitworth vs Olivier Vernon</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/11/11902988/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-8-a-j-green-vs-joe?_ga=1.128634572.1585000710.1455890694">No. 8 A.J. Green vs Joe Haden</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/18/11944806/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-7-geno-atkins-vs-zack?_ga=1.128634572.1585000710.1455890694">No. 7 Geno Atkins vs Zack Martin</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/20/11977392/bengals-10-matchups-carlos-dunlap-vs-marcus-gilbert?_ga=1.128634572.1585000710.1455890694">No. 6 Carlos Dunlap vs Marcus Gilbert</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/27/12040044/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-5-andy-dalton-vs?_ga=1.128634572.1585000710.1455890694">No. 5 Andy Dalton vs Broncos' Secondary</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/7/4/12059908/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-4-cedric-ogbuehi-vs-j?_ga=1.128634572.1585000710.1455890694">No. 4 Cedric Ogbuehi vs J.J. Watt</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/7/5/12086096/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-3-adam-jones-vs?_ga=1.128634572.1585000710.1455890694">No. 3 Adam Jones vs Antonio Brown</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/7/10/12128986/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-2-shawn-williams-vs?_ga=1.128634572.1585000710.1455890694">No. 2 Shawn Williams vs Ben Roethlisberger</a></p>
<p>You know the Bengals' rivalry with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> is intense when four of the top 10 matchups of the season and all of the top three feature players from these two teams. You could maybe argue that there are other matchups that deserve some recognition here rather than focusing so much on the Cincinnati/Pittsburgh rivalry. But, analyzing each matchup individually, it's hard to say that any one of these four don't belong. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find one matchup this season more interesting and exciting than Burfict against the Steelers' offense.</p>
<h3>The Players</h3>
<p id="paragraph2">Burfict and the Pittsburgh Steelers simply do not like each other. On top of multiple injuries after plays involving Burfict and <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/26/12024806/afc-north-beat-writers-convinced-vontaze-burfict-is-dirty-but-is-he?_ga=1.132885070.1585000710.1455890694">accusations of foul play lobbied at him</a>, the bad blood between Burfict and the Steelers has been noted as <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/7/7/12122538/vontaze-burfict-vs-steelers-tabbed-as-best-nfl-rivalry">the best player rivalry in the NFL</a>.</p>
<p>Over the course of his four year career, Burfict and the Steelers have met a total of seven times. They didn't get a chance to play each other during his injury plagued 2014 season. But, two regular season games a year plus a playoff game in January have seen him put up 49 tackles, 17 assisted tackles, a sack, and an interception.</p>
<p>His lone sack came in the Bengals' 2016 Wild Card matchup with the Steelers. The hit was a pivotal one for the Bengals, forcing the Steelers to punt and allowing the Bengals to go on to score their first points of the game.</p>
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<p>The sack and subsequent touchdown from the Bengals' offense lead to a 16 point comeback for the Bengals in the fourth quarter. Following the Bengals' second touchdown that put them ahead 16-15, Burfict made an interception on <span>Landry Jones</span> late in the fourth quarter that really should have allowed the Bengals to wrap things up and grab their first playoff win since 1991.</p>
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<p>Things were crazy in Cincinnati for a bit, until <span>Jeremy Hill</span> fumbled on the subsequent drive and a pair of personal fouls from Burfict and <span>Adam Jones</span> resulted in the Steelers being set up in prime field goal position. And, as we all know, one of those fouls was due to a hit on <span>Antonio Brown</span> that caused him to have a concussion and miss the Steelers' subsequent game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a>.</p>
<h4>Vontaze Burfict</h4>
<p>Burfict's behavior throughout his NFL career has been pretty predictable if you followed the buzz surrounding him before the draft. Despite possessing first round talent, his attitude and inability to work with his college coaches caused NFL teams to completely avoid the dynamic linebacker in the draft, allowing the Bengals to sign him as a college free agent in 2012. Since then, he has become a key player on the Bengals' defense and has been regularly recognized as one of the most talented linebackers in the league. But, he hasn't done much to dispel the notion that he has a bad attitude.</p>
<p id="paragraph4">Due to his actions at the end of the Bengals/Steelers Wild Card game, as well as other violations of the league's safety rules, Burfict will be suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season. That means, when the Bengals travel to Pittsburgh in Week 2 to face off against the Steelers, we won't get to watch the Bengals' No. 1 best matchup of 2016.</p>
<p>However, Burfict will be back in plenty of time for the Bengals to host the hated Steelers in Week 15. It could very well end up being a division championship game, so tensions will be as high as they've ever been. Burfict should be ready and hungry to face off against his arch rivals, but hopefully, this will be a safely played game without the injuries we've seen on both teams in recent matchups.</p>
<h4>Steelers' offense</h4>
<p id="paragraph7">Over the last couple of years, the Steelers' offense has established itself as one of the best in the NFL. Due to <span>Roethlisberger's</span> advanced age and the fact that his play style is just not kind to his body, you would probably expect them to be taking a step back at this point. But, the emergence of high performance players like Antonio Brown and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/193405/le-veon-bell?_ga=1.70880848.1585000710.1455890694">Le'Veon Bell</a> have allowed the Steelers' offense to rank among the top three offenses in both of the last two years.</p>
<p>In the past, the Steelers' offense has generally been the victim of Burfict's rough style of play. Roethlisberger, Brown, and Bell have all been relegated to the sidelines after being injured during plays involving the Bengals' linebacker, so they will surely be eager to get some revenge going forward.</p>
<h3>Who has the advantage?</h3>
<p id="paragraph10">Given Roethlisberger's advanced age, I would say that Burfict has the advantage in this matchup. Roethlisberger experienced numerous injuries last season, so who's to say what a few more hits will do to him this year.</p>
<p>Hopefully, Burfict will be more careful so as to not potentially hurt the Bengals' chances by making more boneheaded hits like the one on Brown back in January. If he can keep that to a minimum, it is going to be hard to see any way that the Steelers will be able to get the best of him.</p>
<p>The Steelers may or may not be able to find ways to put together offensive drives on the side of the field in which Burfict is not located. But, it's going to be very difficult for the Steelers to get anything done directly matched up against him if he is on his 'A' game.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/7/20/12149280/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-1-vontaze-burfict-vsKyle Phelps2016-07-10T10:30:03-04:002016-07-10T10:30:03-04:00Best matchups of 16: No. 2, Williams vs Big Ben
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<figcaption>Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Bengals' promising young safety should get his opportunity to play against the Steelers' aging elite quarterback on a regular basis now.</p> <p id="paragraph0">Yep, it's another <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bengals</a>/<a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Steelers</a> matchup appearing in this series. So far, we've already looked at <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/20/11977392/bengals-10-matchups-carlos-dunlap-vs-marcus-gilbert?_ga=1.62497260.1585000710.1455890694">No. 6: Carlos Dunlap vs</a> <span>Marcus Gilbert</span> as well as <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/7/5/12086096/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-3-adam-jones-vs?_ga=1.137407984.1585000710.1455890694">No 3: Adam Jones vs Antonio Brown</a> as two of the best individual player vs player matchups the Bengals will encounter in 2016. The rivalry between the Bengals and Steelers at this point is so heated and interesting that it's tough to not focus on these matchups so closely.</p>
<p>With one matchup yet to be announced, we might not even be done talking about Bengals/Steelers matchups after this. But, for now, let's focus on the matchup between the Bengals' promising, young free safety and the Steelers' aging, elite quarterback.</p>
<h3>The Players</h3>
<p id="paragraph2"><span>Shawn Williams</span>' and <span>Ben Roethlisberger's</span> teams have met a total of seven times since Williams entered the league in 2013. However, Williams has only played in four of those seven games and only had an opportunity to contribute in the defensive backfield in the three most recent ones.</p>
<p>The biggest highlight of 2015 between the two teams may have been Williams' diving interception on Roethlisberger during the Bengals' Week 8, 16-10 victory over the Steelers in Pittsburgh.</p>
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<p>The Bengals were down by a score of 10-6 at the time, but Williams' interception put the Bengals in prime field position to put together a touchdown pass from <span>Andy Dalton</span> to <span>A.J. Green</span>, giving the Bengals their first lead of the game with 5:34 left to play.</p>
<h4>Shawn Williams</h4>
<p id="paragraph4">Williams was drafted in the third round of the 2013 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NFL Draft</a>. At the time, it looked as though he was going to be prepped to take over at the Bengals' vacant strong safety position opposite the 29-year-old <span>Reggie Nelson</span>. Due to the emergence of 2012 fifth round pick <span>George Iloka</span> at the position, that didn't end up happening. But, Williams has been a strong special teams contributor over the last couple of years while waiting for his opportunity to show his talent in the defensive backfield.</p>
<p>He finally got his opportunity to log some significant playing hours at free safety in 2015 due to some durability issues with Iloka who was injured a few times early in the season. In the process, according to <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641763&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.profootballfocus.com%2Fratings%2F%23%2Fratings%2Fpositions%2Fshow%2FS&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cincyjungle.com%2F2016%2F7%2F10%2F12128986%2Fbengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-2-shawn-williams-vs" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pro Football Focus, Williams logged 535 snaps</a> over the course of the season and finished as the 43rd best safety in the NFL with a grade of 73.7. Heading into 2016, you can see why the Bengals feel confident enough in the safety position that they let Nelson walk and <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/5/17/11689690/shawn-williams-4-year-contract-extension-bengals" target="_blank">signed Williams to an extension</a>.</p>
<p>The Bengals and Steelers will play their annual two games against each other in 2016. As it stands, it looks like Williams will be the starter at free safety, ready to show that he can continue his success against Roethlisberger and hopefully be the new thorn in Roethlisberger's side, which <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/12/10/9883528/bengals-safety-reggie-nelson-has-owned-steelers-quarterback-ben" target="_blank">Nelson certainly was throughout his Bengals career</a>.</p>
<h4>Ben Roethlisberger</h4>
<p id="paragraph7">For plenty of quarterbacks, being 34-years-old and entering their 13th season in the NFL would come with signs of slowing down and playing with a bit more reserved approach. That's not the case for Roethlisberger, who put up 3,938 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in just 11 games last season.</p>
<p>In addition to his 2015 stats, he had a career year in 2014 throwing for 4,952 yards, 32 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.</p>
<p>To an extent, it does appear that age is starting to catch up to Roethlisberger as he missed multiple games due to injury in 2015 for the first time since 2012. But, his game hasn't changed a bit. Despite the aging process and a career of treating his body like a running back would, he still utilizes his scrambling ability and sheer toughness to extend plays on a regular basis and give his team every opportunity to find success.</p>
<p>He'll probably be continuing that playing style in 2016, making Williams' job all the more difficult. Regardless, it should be one of the most interesting matchups and best tests for a young Bengals player this season.</p>
<h3>Who has the advantage?</h3>
<p id="paragraph10">Although it pains me to say this, there can't be any doubt that Roethlisberger has the obvious advantage right now. He is an established quarterback playing at an elite level, whereas Williams is just a former backup safety who had a few exciting games last season.</p>
<p>This matchup really gets exciting when you explore Williams' potential and whether or not he can live up to how he has played against Roethlisberger in the past. Like the <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/7/4/12059908/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-4-cedric-ogbuehi-vs-j?_ga=1.127975756.1585000710.1455890694">No. 4 matchup </a>between <span>Cedric Ogbuehi</span> and <span>J.J. Watt</span>, this particular matchup is so interesting purely on the basis of seeing how well the new starter will play against such a high profile veteran, but in this case it also involves one of the NFL's fiercest rivalries.</p>
<p>There seems to be no reason to think that Williams simply can't handle playing against Roethlisberger. The interesting part is seeing what actually happens when the two players meet up on the field. At that point, all of the speculation goes out the window and all that matters are the results.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/7/10/12128986/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-2-shawn-williams-vsKyle Phelps2016-07-05T16:00:03-04:002016-07-05T16:00:03-04:00 Jones vs Brown should continue as great matchup
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<figcaption>Andy Lyons/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Adam Jones and Antonio Brown already have some bad blood, so it will be interesting to see what happens when they meet up again in 2016.</p> <p id="paragraph0">It's probably no surprise that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> games in 2016 are likely to produce a lot of fireworks. We've already looked at <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/20/11977392/bengals-10-matchups-carlos-dunlap-vs-marcus-gilbert">one matchup between the two rivals</a>, <span>Carlos Dunlap</span> vs Marcus Gilbert. But, there are many more that will be just as, if not more interesting and fun to watch. In particular, the matchup between pro bowlers <span>Adam Jones</span> and <span>Antonio Brown</span> should be one of the most exciting of the season. Though the Bengals don't play man-to-man, whenever the two are lined up opposite one another, it should be fun to watch.</p>
<h3>The Players</h3>
<p id="paragraph2">Stop me if you've heard this one: the Bengals and Steelers don't like each other. It's a fact that not just Bengals and Steelers fans are aware of, but the NFL community as a whole.</p>
<p>Jones and Brown are key pieces to this rivalry, being at the center of a major point of contention last season. On top of facing off against each other three times as each team's top option at opposing positions, they were involved in one of the most controversial events of the year when Brown was laid out by <span>Vontaze Burfict</span> in the playoffs. The hit drew a flag and caused a series of events that stirred Jones up, leading to him committing a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.</p>
<p>Following the incident, the Steelers were set up for an easy field goal with only seconds left in a 16-15 game where the Bengals held a slim lead. <span>Chris Boswell</span> converted the field goal and the Bengals went home while the Steelers went on to play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a> in the divisional round. Afterwards, <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/1/11/10749174/bengals-cb-adam-jones-says-steelers-wr-antonio-brown-was-not-hurt">Jones called Brown out for allegedly faking his injury</a>, although later apologized when Brown was, in fact, ruled out for the next playoff game.</p>
<p>With such a fiery history between the two, we can only hope that their matchups in 2016 produce excitement only for football reasons, rather than extracurricular ones.</p>
<h4>Adam Jones</h4>
<p id="paragraph4">In 2015, Jones was one of the best cornerbacks in the league. He put together 53 tackles, 12 passes deflected, three interceptions, a forced fumble, and a sack in a season that earned him a Pro Bowl berth. In the process, he allowed only a single touchdown all season. In fact, <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/5/9/11639466/pff-ranks-tyler-eifert-adam-jones-among-nfls-top-101-players-in-2015">as we've previously explored with Pro Football Focus</a>, he only allowed a passer rating of 60.0 to opposing quarterbacks when targeted.</p>
<p>However, Jones' career hasn't always been smooth sailing and particularly impressive. He was drafted sixth overall by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/">Tennessee Titans</a> in 2005, but only contributed for two years before sitting out for the 2007 season due to suspension issues. He was traded to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> in 2008, who cut him at the end of that season. He was out of the league in 2009 and didn't return until 2010 when he joined the Bengals.</p>
<p>With the Bengals, he regularly proved his worth as a kick/punt returner, averaging 11.3 yards per punt return over his tenure with the team and 26.9 yards per kick return.</p>
<p>With the departure of Terence Newman after the 2014 season, Jones received his chance to start at cornerback and rewarded the team with excellent play. In three matchups against Brown in 2015, Brown had only a single game with over 100 receiving yards and a single touchdown in another.</p>
<h4>Antonio Brown</h4>
<p id="paragraph7">Like Jones, Brown has become a potent kick/punt returning option for his team in addition to his ability to play his normal position at an elite level. In 2015, Brown recorded 136 catches for 1,834 yards and 10 touchdowns. In addition, he returned 22 punts for 212 yards and 1 touchdown.</p>
<p>For the most part, he seems to be a multi-tooled player, but one who struggled to find consistency against the Bengals in 2015. Before 2015, he was regularly a thorn in their side, putting up 90+ yards and at least one touchdown in most of their meetings. As previously explored, he hasn't managed to find the same level of production when playing opposite Adam Jones, so you can bet that he'll be looking to assert himself as the better player regardless of any other reasons he might have to one-up Jones.</p>
<h3>Who has the advantage?</h3>
<p id="paragraph10">Based on the history between these two players, you've got to give the advantage to Jones. Not many players can hold an elite receiver like Brown to only mild effectiveness on a regular basis, but Jones seems to have found the formula.</p>
<p>Coming off arguably the best season of his career, there also doesn't seem to be much reason to start factoring age into the equation for Jones just yet. Yes, the 27-year-old Brown is about five years younger and, therefore, five years fresher and looser. But, there's something to be said about momentum, and Jones seems to have plenty of it right now.</p>
<p>The two players will face off in Week 2 and Week 15. You could potentially make the argument that Jones will have the advantage early in the season, while Brown will have the advantage later when fatigue potentially starts to set in for the older Jones. However, to an extent, age is a state of mind, and Jones doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/7/5/12086096/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-3-adam-jones-vsKyle Phelps2016-07-04T10:30:02-04:002016-07-04T10:30:02-04:0010 Best matchups of 2016: Ogbuehi vs Watt
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<figcaption>Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Bengals will get to see what Cedric Ogbuehi is truly made of in Week 16.</p> <p id="paragraph0">It's going to be an interesting season for <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bengals</a>' 2015 first round pick <span>Cedric Ogbuehi</span>. By most accounts, he's expected to go from a virtually redshirted rookie who did manage to work his way into five games at the end of the season to the Bengals' starting right tackle, providing he stays healthy and plays up to expectations.</p>
<p>That kind of career advancement will come with its own set of challenges. If he does, in fact, earn the starting spot, Ogbuehi will have to face off against talented defensive ends such as the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Giants</a>' <span>Kerry Wynn</span>, the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Patriots</a>' <span>Chris Long</span>, the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dolphins</a>' <span>Cameron Wake</span>, the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Jets</a>' <span>Muhammad Wilkerson</span>, the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Steelers</a>' <span>Cameron Heyward</span>, the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Browns</a>' <span>Desmond Bryant</span>, the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Broncos</a>' <span>Derek Wolfe</span>, and the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins" class="sbn-auto-link">Redskins</a>' Chris Baker. However, none of those players will offer quite the same test as the <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Texans</a>' <span>J.J. Watt</span>.</p>
<h3>The Players</h3>
<p id="paragraph2">The Houston Texans are just one of those teams that the Bengals can't seem to shake, for whatever reason. It all started with a 31-10 beatdown in the 2011 Wild Card round of the playoffs. From that game on, the Bengals have only managed to win one of four total meetings with the Texans, a 22-13 regular season win in 2014 featuring Ryan Mallet as the Texans' quarterback.</p>
<p>Of these four games, Watt has been part of all of them and Ogbuehi has been part of none. Ogbuehi is expected to be the Bengals' starting right tackle going into 2016 and, if that comes to fruition, he will be tasked with a challenge that <span>Andre Smith</span> could never quite handle - keeping Watt in check. It will be the toughest challenge of his young career, but the test should provide some insight as to just how well he can play.</p>
<h4><span>Cedric Ogbuehi</span></h4>
<p id="paragraph6">Ogbuehi was drafted in the first round of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">2015 NFL Draft</a> despite some fairly major injury issues. The Bengals fell in love with his athleticism and ability to win blocks at the second level, making him the ideal outside run blocker. He was noted as struggling a bit with pass protection, but his positives were just too much to pass up for the team.</p>
<p>With <span>Andre Smith</span> leaving for the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Vikings</a> in the offseason, the door looks open for Ogbuehi to make his mark as the team's next starting right tackle. Granted, anything could happen between now and Week 16, but various Bengals personnel have <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/bengals-news/2016/4/26/11510630/bengals-believe-cedric-ogbuehi-is-ready-for-big-impact-in-year-two">already praised his development and expect him to take the spot</a>.</p>
<p>It's hard to say just exactly how Ogubehi will fare in this matchup because there is barely any game film at the NFL level to analyze with him. But, regardless, facing off against the elite Watt near the end of a grueling season will show exactly what he's made of and if he really has what it takes to be the Bengals' next franchise tackle.</p>
<h4>J.J. Watt</h4>
<p id="paragraph9">Watt has been a thorn in the Bengals' side ever since his rookie season. In his first meeting with Cincinnari, the Bengals actually didn't have too much trouble with him. They won their Week 13 matchup in 2011 by a score of only 20-19 and Watt only contributed three tackles on the day. However, the two teams met in the Wild Card round of the playoffs later on and Watt was all over the place, contributing two tackles, a sack, and a batted pass/pick six on <span>Andy Dalton</span>, helping the Texans to a major 31-10 victory in the Bengals' first playoff game of the Andy Dalton era.</p>
<p>In 2012, he played well against the Bengals in the playoffs again, contributing five tackles and a sack in the Texans' 19-13 Wild Card win. He was mostly held in check when the two teams met in Week 11 of the 2014 season, only posting four tackles in a 23-7 victory for the Bengals. However, in Week 9 of 2015, Watt showed his face again with two tackles and a sack in a very defensive 10-6 win for the Texans, handing the Bengals their first loss of the season.</p>
<p>In Watt's four meetings with the Bengals, most of them have been pretty impressive performances, but many of them have also been against the inconsistent and generally unimpressive Andre Smith. He did face off against <span>Marshall Newhouse</span> on one occasion due to Smith being hurt and <span>Eric Winston</span> last season while Smith recovered from a concussion. But, Smith and Newhouse are both gone from the team, Winston looks to once again man a backup role and Ogbuehi looks ready to make his mark as the team's new starting right tackle.</p>
<h3>Who has the advantage?</h3>
<p id="paragraph12">It's hard to analyze this matchup in too much depth because Ogbuehi hasn't really had much of a chance to show what he can do at the NFL level. He did play in five games near the end of last season when he was ruled healthy enough to play, also making an appearance in their playoff loss. But, it's virtually nothing compared to the challenges of potentially starting and playing an entire game against one the best of if not the best edge rusher in the NFL.</p>
<p>We know that Watt will have plenty of confidence going into this matchup given his history against the Bengals. Potentially having 14 games to adjust to NFL level edge rushers should help Ogbuehi's chances, but he hasn't faced an opponent like Watt in his entire career leading up to this point. So, it's hard to say that he'll be prepared for the matchup.</p>
<p>From where we stand right now, there's really no argument against Watt having the obvious advantage here. But, that perspective could change after the team's first 14 regular season games during which we'll see Ogbuehi show if he was lives up to the hype surrounding him. One thing is for sure, it would be a huge accomplishment for the Bengals' young tackle if he could shut down the Texans' elite edge rusher.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/7/4/12059908/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-4-cedric-ogbuehi-vs-jKyle Phelps2016-06-27T18:41:39-04:002016-06-27T18:41:39-04:0010 Best matchups of 2016: Dalton vs Broncos DBs
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<p>Andy Dalton should get his next chance to play against the Broncos on September 25, 2016.</p> <p id="paragraph0">The <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bengals</a> will face off against the World Champion <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Denver Broncos</a> in their 2016 Week 3 home opener. Providing both teams live up to their expectations in 2016, it should be the kind of game that gets a lot of attention not just from Bengals and Broncos fans, but the entire NFL community.</p>
<p>It's actually a bit surprising that the game is currently set to be featured on CBS at 1:00 p.m. ET that day. That's especially true since the Sunday Night Football game that week features the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cowboys</a> and <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bears</a>, who both finished below .500 last year. Still, it's likely to be one of the most exciting and pivotal games of the season. However, there's one particular matchup that will make this game even more interesting than it already should be; the matchup between <span>Andy Dalton</span> and the Broncos' secondary. As we highlight the <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/8/11887742/bengals-top-10-positional-matchups-in-2016" target="_blank">most exciting matchups of the Bengals' 2016 season</a>, this one ranks No. 5 on our list.</p>
<h3>The Players</h3>
<p id="paragraph3">The Bengals and Broncos are no strangers on the football field. Since 2011, the teams have met four times, three of which have resulted in close victories for the Broncos. Dalton, in particular, has only played in three of those four games, missing the most recent one in 2015 with a thumb injury that kept him out for the last quarter of the season.</p>
<p>With Dalton on the field, the Bengals have a losing record of 1-2 against the Broncos over the last five years. However, there's every reason to believe that they would have beaten the Broncos last year and evened the record up to 2-2 had Dalton played.</p>
<p>Dalton was on pace for a career year in which <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/12/5/9853140/bengals-quarterback-andy-dalton-putting-together-record-breaking">he could have broken multiple records</a> before going down with his thumb injury in Week 14. Behind backup quarterback <span>AJ McCarron</span>, the team only lost to the Broncos by a score of 20-17 in overtime. So, you have to like their chances if Dalton had been healthy and continued to play at the same level.</p>
<p>The Broncos' secondary helped their team to win the day when the teams met in 2015, but it's a little less impressive to do that against a backup quarterback in McCarron who had only started a single game in his career at that point. They will be looking to repeat that success against Dalton when they face off against the Bengals early in the seaosn this year.</p>
<h4>Andy Dalton</h4>
<p id="paragraph6">The narrative for Dalton's career has generally revolved around the fact that his performances were very inconsistent throughout his first four years in the NFL, especially in primetime games. There would be times that he played like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but there would also be times that he completely laid an egg. There was plenty of controversy about whether or not the Bengals should continue to rely on him as their franchise quarterback going forward after the 2014 season. But, the team has stood by him and has been rewarded for their loyalty.</p>
<p>For the most part, Dalton silenced many of his doubters in 2015 by completing 66.1 percent of his passes for 3,250 yards and 25 touchdowns with only seven interceptions in the first 12 games of the season plus the first quarter of the team's 13th game. Unfortunately, it was near the end of that first quarter against the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> in Week 14 that he fractured his thumb, prematurely ending his season. Before his injury, he recorded a quarterback rating of at least 100.0 eight times during the course of the season and at least 90.0 two more times for an average of 106.2 over the season. His QBR, as reported by ESPN was the second highest in the NFL last season.</p>
<p>He'll be looking to repeat that success in 2016 and barring any unforeseen circumstances, there doesn't seem to be any reason why he can't reach those heights again. He'll quickly have the opportunity to show what he's made of as he faces off against the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Jets</a>, Steelers, and Broncos in the first three games of the season.</p>
<h4>The Broncos secondary</h4>
<p>In past years, the Broncos' secondary has been pretty average against Dalton. In their first meeting in 2011, they allowed a quarterback rating of 107.0 due to two touchdowns and a 65 percent completion rating. In 2012, they did better, holding Dalton to a single touchdown and recording an interception, but still allowing nearly 300 passing yards on the day. In 2014, they fell to Dalton's Bengals while allowing a 93.1 quarterback rating due to two touchdowns and only one interception.</p>
<p id="paragraph11">Heading into 2016, the Broncos' secondary is easily one of the most talented in the NFL and should give Dalton a tough battle. In 2015, a stout defensive line put up 52 sacks on the season, but the combination of <span>Aqib Talib</span>, <span>Chris Harris</span>, <span>T.J. Ward</span>, and <span>Darian Stewart</span> in the defensive backfield allowed the least passing yards per game (199.6) and the third least passing touchdowns (19) in the NFL in 2015.</p>
<p>There's no reason to think that they won't continue to play at a very high level. but, going up against one of the NFL's best quarterbacks in 2015, they should have their work cut out for them.</p>
<h3>Who has the advantage?</h3>
<p id="paragraph14">The Bengals' schedule through the first three weeks could be a major factor in who has the advantage in this matchup. On one hand, going up against a stout Jets secondary and the hated Steelers on the road could wear Dalton out for Week 3's home opener. But, it could also prepare him to go up against some of the heaviest competition in the NFL, allowing him to be more prepared and relaxed against the Broncos.</p>
<p>Dalton's weapons are another wild card in this scenario. Yes, he will be working with a lot of new faces in 2016, but he will also have <span>Tyler Eifert</span> on hand, hopefully. Eifert has been hurt each time the Bengals have played the Broncos over the course of his career, so the Broncos might be at a disadvantage having no direct experience with one of the Bengals' best pass catchers.</p>
<p>Ultimately, it really depends on which Dalton shows up in 2016. If the product that we saw in 2015 shows up again, he should have absolutely no problem against the Broncos' secondary. But, if he regresses back to his inconsistent pre-2015 form, the odds may fall in favor of the Broncos' talented secondary.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/27/12040044/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-5-andy-dalton-vsKyle Phelps2016-06-20T16:00:02-04:002016-06-20T16:00:02-04:0010 Best player matchups of 2016: Dunlap vs Gilbert
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<p>The Bengals' dynamic defensive end should provide yet another interesting matchup against the Steelers' reliable right tackle.</p> <p id="paragraph0">When the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a> face off against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> in 2016, there should be no shortage of interesting storylines to pay attention to.</p>
<p>One of the storylines that isn't likely to get as much buzz as it should is the matchup between Bengals' left defensive end <span>Carlos Dunlap</span> and Steelers' right tackle <span>Marcus Gilbert</span>. Both are players who probably haven't been recognized enough for their accomplishments over the course of their careers.</p>
<p>But, when the Bengals and Steelers go at it on September 18 and December 18, each player should be a significant factor in either team's keys to the game.</p>
<h3>The Players</h3>
<p id="paragraph3">Dunlap and Gilbert aren't exactly strangers on the football field, so they will be hoping to use their familiarity with each other to aid in their preparation and help their team win the day. In the past, Gilbert has generally performed well against Dunlap.</p>
<p>In six total games that the two have faced off against each other, Dunlap has only recorded 2.0 sacks and 10 tackles. However, he's also one of the most dominant defensive ends in the NFL in general, with the potential to make a huge impact on just about any game.</p>
<p>If anything, Gilbert should have his hands full trying to repeat past successes.</p>
<h4><span>Carlos Dunlap</span></h4>
<p id="paragraph4">Heading into the 2010 draft, Dunlap was seen as a player with all of the talent and athleticism in the world. But, some red flags on his character and work ethic created some skepticism. His natural power and length were seen as obvious high points in his game with the potential to lead to a very solid NFL career.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, a DUI arrest heaped on top of the idea that his work ethic could stand to improve caused him to fall to the Bengals in the second round.</p>
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<p>Since being drafted, Dunlap has done nothing but prove all of his doubters wrong. He has developed the kind of consistent work ethic in practice and in games that <span>have </span>helped him learn to dominate at the NFL level. He worked his way to a six-year, $40 million contract extension before he even became a full-fledged starter and became a star citizen in addition to being a star player, resulting in being the Bengals' 2015 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.</p>
<p>Since becoming a full-fledged starter in 2013, he has never put up less than 7.5 sacks in a season or 37 tackles in a season. In 2015 alone, he recorded his lowest number of tackles since he became a full-fledged starter (37), but finished fourth in the NFL in total sacks (13.5). It was enough for his first Pro Bowl berth, but he'll be looking for more in 2016.</p>
<h4><span>Marcus Gilbert</span></h4>
<p id="paragraph7">Drafted just a year after Dunlap as the Steelers were preparing to move on from incumbent right tackle <span>Willie Colon</span>, Gilbert made a name for himself from the start as a reliable offensive linemen who can keep up with the best of the competition. He started 13 games in 2011 in place of the injured Colon and received the Steelers' rookie of the year award for his performances. Gilbert did play against the Bengals in both games in 2011, but Dunlap missed both.</p>
<p>In 2012, Gilbert played well from the beginning, starting all of the first five games, but lost the rest of his season due to injury and never even got a chance to face off against the Bengals that season. It wasn't until 2013 when Gilbert and Dunlap finally got a chance to face off against each other.</p>
<p>The Bengals won the game 20-10 and Dunlap contributed with 0.5 sacks and a tackle on the day. The most recent matchup between the two also resulted in 0.5 sacks and a tackle for Dunlap, but an infamous 18-16 loss for the Bengals.</p>
<h3>Who has the advantage?</h3>
<p id="paragraph10">For the most part, Gilbert has held Dunlap to average performances when the two teams meet, although he hasn't managed to keep him completely silent. You could make the argument that these two are likely to experience another stalemate when they meet again in 2016, despite the incredible talent on both sides. Throughout their six matchups so far, the two seem to be about as evenly matched as it gets.</p>
<p>Ultimately, picking an advantage in this matchup comes down to who has more experience and who is more naturally talented. Dunlap has been in the league longer, but Gilbert has been a full-fledged starter longer. However, it's hard to argue against Dunlap being the more naturally talented of the two. Gilbert is generally criticized for being weak against the bull rush, which <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2013/7/19/4533872/tape-breakdown-carlos-dunlaps-bull-rush">we already know Dunlap can do very well</a>.</p>
<p>Dunlap also seems to have found his stride a bit quicker than Gilbert at the NFL level. The aforementioned 2015 Pro Bowl berth is something that Gilbert wasn't even really in contention for throughout the voting process. He's easily one of the most reliable members of the Steelers' offensive line right now, but he should have his hands full against an energized and confident Dunlap.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/20/11977392/bengals-10-matchups-carlos-dunlap-vs-marcus-gilbertKyle Phelps2016-06-18T09:00:03-04:002016-06-18T09:00:03-04:0010 best player matchups of 2016: Atkins vs Martin
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<p>One of the NFL's best young defensive tackles will face off against one of the NFL's best young guards in Week 5.</p> <p id="paragraph0">When the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bengals</a> face off against the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Cowboys</a> in Week 5, two of the NFL's best at their respective positions will face off. Those players are the Bengals' defensive tackle <span>Geno Atkins</span> and the Cowboys' offensive guard <span>Zack Martin</span>. As a third year player, Martin has never had the chance to play against the Bengals before, so the matchup should provide a new and interesting twist when the two teams play each other.</p>
<p id="paragraph1">The Bengals last faced off in the regular season against the Cowboys in Week 14 of the 2012 season. They were in the middle of a late season playoff push when they won seven of their final eight games, making up for a poor 3-5 start to the season. Unfortunately, the Cowboys were the one team to beat them during that stretch, finishing things off with a last second <span>Dan Bailey</span> field goal that ended up being the difference between the Bengals and <a href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Ravens</a> for the AFC North championship that year.</p>
<p id="paragraph3">It was an unfortunate outcome for the Bengals, although it was a decent day for Atkins who recorded three tackles, one of which was a sack on <span>Tony Romo</span>. At the time, <span>Mackenzy Bernadeau</span> was the Cowboys' starting right guard in charge of keeping Atkins in check. Martin replaced Bernadeau as the starter two years later, but Atkins will be hoping to have a similar performance, maybe better, against the young Notre Dame alumni, who coincidentally, is engaged to Tyler Eifert's sister.</p>
<h3>The Players</h3>
<p id="paragraph5">Atkins and Martin have never faced off against each other in the past. But, being two of the NFL's best players at their respective positions means that we could be in for a fantastic show in their first meeting.</p>
<h4>Geno Atkins</h4>
<p id="paragraph7">Atkins did not come into the NFL with the kind of ovation and recognition that you would expect for a player who ended up as good as he is. Due to some size and motor concerns, his highly productive career at Georgia was overlooked by scouts. He had the talent and production of a first round prospect, but the drawbacks were just too much for some teams to look past.</p>
<p>Luckily for the Bengals, he was available in the fourth round of the 2010 draft and they picked up one of the greatest steals in the NFL Draft over the last decade as a result. Since arriving in the league, he has racked up 43 sacks, 140 tackles, eight forced fumbles, and seven deflected passes. His production is so impressive and consistent that he has been named to the Pro Bowl every year since he became a starter (2011) except for 2013 when his season ended in Week 9 due to a torn ACL against the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Dolphins</a>.</p>
<p>The Bengals are very fortunate to have a player of his caliber on the defensive line, although he will definitely be challenged when the Bengals go up against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5.</p>
<h4>Zack Martin</h4>
<p id="paragraph9">Martin only has two years of playing experience in the NFL, but he has proven to be a major asset to one of the NFL's best offensive lines during that time. He was considered to be the starter from the very moment he put on a Cowboys helmet and has not disappointed since.</p>
<p>Since Martin joined the Cowboys, Romo has been sacked much less often, allowing him to have time in the backfield to be the high-end quarterback that the Cowboys need. In fairness, Romo did get hit hard enough that his season was significantly shortened in 2015 due to two shoulder injuries, playing only Weeks 1, 2, 11 and 12.</p>
<p>Martin will certainly be tested in Week 5 when the Cowboys face the Bengals and he has to hold off the prolific Atkins. But, he is also one of the best guards in the NFL and should prove to at least keep up with the dynamic defensive tackle.</p>
<h3>Who has the advantage?</h3>
<p id="paragraph11">It's hard to really say that either player will definitely be overwhelmed by the talent and power of the other, which is why this is such a tantalizing matchup. That said, it's pretty hard to not give the advantage in this matchup to Atkins.</p>
<p>Martin has performed very well during his time in the NFL, but he has very rarely gone up against players of Atkins' caliber. He did manage to virtually shut down <span>Aaron Donald</span> of the <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rams</a> in 2014, only allowing one tackle, but that was the third game of Donald's career. <span>Gerald McCoy</span> of the <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> recorded the same stat line against the Cowboys in 2015. However, <span>Ndamukong Suh</span> did have a pretty good game against the Cowboys in the 2014 divisional playoff game between the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Lions</a> and Cowboys. He recorded three tackles, two of which were sacks. All of Suh's tackles were either for no gain or negative yards.</p>
<p>When the Bengals and Cowboys play each other in Week 5 this season, Martin could potentially be up against the toughest challenge of his NFL career to date. He could also very well rise to the occasion and continue to prove why he is one of the best guards in the NFL. But, it just seems more likely that the seventh year Bengals defensive tackle will be in a better position to win the day.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/18/11944806/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-7-geno-atkins-vs-zackKyle Phelps2016-06-11T14:00:03-04:002016-06-11T14:00:03-04:0010 best player matchups of 2016: Green vs Haden
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<p>The rivalry is renewed on Sunday, October 23.</p> <p id="paragraph0">One of the most interesting matchups of recent NFL seasons is the battle between <span>A.J. Green</span> and <span>Joe Haden</span> when the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bengals</a> and the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Browns</a> play each other. Over the course of Green's first three years in the NFL, Haden generally got the better of Green most of the time.</p>
<p>In fact, <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2014/11/5/7151229/breaking-down-a-j-greens-history-with-joe-haden">Green only received two positive overall grades from Pro Football Focus for his efforts </a>in the five total matchups between the two players during that time period. Haden recorded positively in all but one game.</p>
<p>Since then, Haden and Green have only met twice, both times in 2014 due to Haden's injury issues in 2015. Haden won the matchup in Week 9 on Thursday Night Football, holding Green to only three receptions for 23 yards. He won again in Week 14, holding Green to only five receptions for 49 yards. And, Haden was even beating Green back in college when Green played for Georgia and Haden for Florida.</p>
<p>It is worth noting, however, that Green was dealing with multiple injury issues that may have hampered his performances in 2014. That doesn't change anything about his poor performances against Cleveland from 2011-2013, but it might help explain just why those 2014 games were so bad.</p>
<p>In 2016, both players should return healthy and ready to compete. They should be in midseason form by Week 7 when the teams play for the first time in 2016, so the world will get a chance to see if one of the league's best receivers can finally overcome his demons against one of the league's best cornerbacks.</p>
<h3>The Players</h3>
<p>Haden and Green have been playing against each other since their SEC days when Haden played for the Florida Gators and Green played for the Georgia Bulldogs. Although Green is a little less than a year older, he didn't start playing in college until a year after Haden. As the two players both left after their junior seasons, Haden has been in the league for a year longer than Green.</p>
<p>The experience seems to have worked in Haden's favor so far, although it's hard to say what exactly is going to happen now that the two players are established veterans and haven't seen each other on the field in over a year. Bengals fans will surely be hoping that Green can overcome what seems like a mental block when he plays against the prolific Browns cornerback, but will probably be nervous given their history.</p>
<h4>A.J. Green</h4>
<p id="paragraph3">Since being drafted No. 4 overall by the Bengals in the first round of the 2011 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NFL Draft</a>, Green has established himself as one of the best receivers in the league. Having started 76 of a possible 80 games since then, Green has recorded 415 catches for 6,171 yards and 45 touchdowns. <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/5/29/11776238/can-a-j-green-become-the-nfls-best-wide-receiver-in-2016">He's recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first five seasons</a>, which is a feat that only <span>Randy Moss</span> can also claim.</p>
<p>Green will face off against great cornerbacks like <span>Darrelle Revis</span>, <span>Aqib Talib</span>, and <span>Josh Norman</span> in 2016 as he prepares to adapt to a Bengals receiver corps where he may be the only consistent factor from the previous season. However, the most interesting challenge for him, by far, will the matchup between him and his arch nemesis who resides about 250 miles northeast on I-71.</p>
<h4>Joe Haden</h4>
<p id="paragraph5">Despite being on teams that are very different in terms of wins per year, Haden's path to greatness has been fairly similar to his Bengal counterpart. Like Green, he has been surrounded with plenty of talent at his particular position. For Green, that has been guys like <span>Tyler Eifert</span>, <span>Marvin Jones</span>, and Mohamed Sanu. For Haden, it's guys like <span>T.J. Ward</span>, <span>Tashaun Gipson</span>, and <span>Buster Skrine</span>.</p>
<p>Since 2010, Haden has started 68 out of a possible 96 games. That relatively low number, compared to Green's starts, is largely due to not starting right away as a rookie and missing most of the 2015 season with a concussion and ankle injury. However, in those starts he has managed to record 262 tackles, 89 pass deflections, four forced fumbles, and 16 interceptions returned for 222 yards and a touchdown. He has shut down some of the NFL's best receivers in Green, <span>Vincent Jackson</span>, <span>Andre Johnson</span>, and <span>Julio Jones</span> while generally playing well enough to be considered in the 'best corner in the league' conversation.</p>
<h3>Who has the advantage?</h3>
<p id="paragraph7">Purely in terms of talent, you could consider this one a bit of a toss up. Green and Haden were both drafted by their respective teams with the expectation that they would both become one of the best players at their respective positions. Both players have generally lived up to that expectation and, at times, have been considered to be one of the only reasons either of their teams had a chance.</p>
<p>However, history favors Haden in this matchup. As mentioned, Green has only had one particularly good game against him so far in his career. There's a good chance that all of that could change now that each player has had a chance to reset after their last matchup. But, until Green proves otherwise, Haden has to be considered the more likely of the two to really make an impact in any game in which the two players meet.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/6/11/11902988/bengals-10-best-positional-matchups-in-2016-no-8-a-j-green-vs-joeKyle Phelps